Wow! Hell's frozen over and pigs have flown. I have actually updated. I am sooo sorry it took me so long to update. I guess I sort of lost my muse for this story and started working on some other ideas I had. Unfortunately, they are not newsie related. But anyway, my muse has returned and with a vengeance. I have like the entire story planned out! So no stopping this time! Please let me know what you all think, ok? Oh and thanks to Canarie for betaing this chapter.

Chapter Seven

"Troll spotted under Brooklyn Bridge!" Katie shouted, trying to sell her last paper. It was already nearing the evening and Katie was selling alone today, which many of the boys weren't that happy about. But she could take care of herself. She grew up running around the streets of New York City.

"Ain't youse done yet?" a bored voice called from behind her. From the corner of her eye, Katie could see Spot leaning on the building behind her, watching her through hooded eyes. She shot him a glare but quickly changed it to a smile as an elderly gentleman came up and bought her last paper.

"What do you want, Spot?" Katie asked stepping in front of him, briefly enjoying the shade from the building.

"I was wonderin' if ya had dinner yet?" Spot asked, tipping his hat up higher, letting her see his face more clearly.

"No, not yet." She replied. "Why? Are you asking me to join you?" The famous Spot Conlon was asking her out to dinner. Hell must have frozen over and pigs must have sprouted wings and flew.

"Deah's a new place I wanna try." Spot shrugged lightly, as if it wasn't a big deal.

"All right Spot. I'll have dinner with you." She smirked, finding the situation to be quite humorous. It's not everyday you get asked out to dinner by Spot Conlon. He led Katie to a small restaurant at the other side of Manhattan, a few blocks from the lodging house.

"They jist opened up an' some of'a da boys said it was pretty good." Spot explained as they took a seat in one of the corner booths. The place was pretty empty, only a few tables had occupants. All the same, the restaurant was a nice change from Tibby's.

"It's really nice." Katie smiled, opening the menu in front of her.

"So did ya have many friends in Boston?" Spot asked, making conversation as he scanned through the menu.

"Most of the girls I didn't really get along with, but there were a couple that were nice." Katie said.

"Was deah a special someone?" Spot asked not caring that he was being rather blunt. Katie stilled for a moment, then forced herself to meet his eyes.

"No. No one special." Katie said sullenly but the quickly moved the topic away from her. "But what about you, Spot? I'm sure you've had plenty of girls while I was away." She grinned at him teasingly.

"I ain't gonna lie. I've had my share of goils but none lately." He shrugged. The conversation lightened up a bit as their food came. They talked about her school, the strike, and what each of them had been doing the time Katie had been gone. Spot was really interested in Boston and the lives of the hoity-toity folks that she had gone to school with. She admitted to him that she hated being away from everyone and preferred the life of a newsie to anything else. It was what she had grown up doing. Spot told her of how nothing really changed much after the strike, except that the price of the papes had been lowered. The newsies were still treated the same and pretty much everyone had forgotten that the strike had even happened. It was only the newsies that talked about it anymore.

The sun was setting as Spot and Katie made their way over to the Manhattan Lodging house. They were both remembering the past, when they were younger, running around the streets.

"The first thing you ever told me was that girl's can't be newsies." Katie stated. Spot laughed remembering.

"Yeah but youse proved me wrong, didn't ya? Yer actually one of da best newsies out deah," He replied. Katie had gotten so mad when Spot had told her that as children. She had gone out and gotten Jack to teach her to be the best there was.

"Yeah, except for today." Katie shrugged.

"It was slow. I tink everyone had a bad day taday." Spot stated. It was true, though. Most of the boys were out later then usual, selling papers.

"Yeah I guess so." Katie shrugged and got unusually quiet. For some reason, with every step closer to the LH, she felt a sort of dread. But she didn't know what was bothering her.

"Hey, are youse okay?" Spot asked, grabbing her hand to get her attention. She looked up at him.

"Yeah I'm fine. Just thinking." She reassured him.

"About me, I hope." Spot smirked. They were standing outside the LH now, and Spot was still holding her hand in his, which Katie didn't mind at all. Since when did she start feeling anything other then annoyance at Spot? But it felt right, them holding hands and both realized it deep down inside.

"You wish." Katie teased lightly. She knew by the look in his eyes, that he was experiencing the same feelings for her that she was feeling for him. But could they be together? They had hated each other since they first met. They could always just give it a try though. But before either of them could further contemplate the idea, a loud voice interrupted them.

"I know she lives here, old man. Now where is she?" a male voice yelled from inside the LH. Katie frowned, instantly recognizing the voice. Why did he have to show up now? Opening the front door, she could see a well-dressed young man standing in the middle of the lobby, arguing with her grandfather. The newsies were scattered around the room, some on the stair well; others positioned against the walls. Jack was the only one who stood up next to Kloppman at the desk.

"Dis is a newsBOYS lodging house. Dere ain't no goils here." Jack argued.

"Why don't you stay out of this, newsie? This isn't any of your business." The other boy stated, glaring at Jack. He knew they were hiding Katie.

"Andrew, stop it." Katie frowned, pushing her way into the room. She knew if she didn't put an end to the argument fast, there was going to be trouble.

"Katie, love! There you are." Andrew said smiling happily, bending down to kiss her on the cheek. She quickly pushed him away.

"Don't you 'Katie love' me! What are you doing here?" she shot back, glaring up at him. She was beyond pissed. She had though she left Andrew in her past, back in Boston. Why the hell was he in New York and in the newsies LH?

"I'm here for you, darling. I want you back." Andrew declared. Everyone was watching the scene with interest, most of all was Spot.

"What? Josephine Pulitzer not good enough for your bed? Now you're running back to me? I don't think so, Andrew." Katie turned to leave, but Andrew stopped her by grabbing her arm.

"Please, just listen to me. She meant nothing to me. I have only ever loved you." He pleaded.

"What makes you think that I love you?" Katie asked coldly.

"Because you still wear my ring." Andrew said and tugged on her necklace, bringing out from underneath her shirt. There on a silver necklace, lay a diamond engagement ring.

Katie is engaged? Since when? And what is Spot gonna do about it? Hmm wait and see. While you wait, please review.